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Bite marks help Glendale police find suspect who snatched French bulldog

The dog was taken on Oct. 5 at about 7 p.m. near 63rd and Maryland avenues in Glendale.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Glendale police have arrested a man who allegedly snatched a woman's pet dog earlier this month near 63rd and Maryland avenues.

The incident was reported on the night of Oct. 5 after a woman was approached by a man as she was walking her French bulldog. 

The man began making comments about the dog and the price of breeding before lashing out at the woman, police said. 

A physical altercation reportedly ensued between the man and woman that ended with the man running off with the victim's dog. Police said the suspect jumped into a dark blue Chevy Equinox and fled.

The victim told police she remembered biting the suspect's back before he fled.

Glendale police arrested the suspect, identified as Eduardo Hidalgo Mendez, on Oct. 27 after he allegedly told an inmate at the Maricopa County jail that he was trying to sell a stolen dog, court records show. 

During a video call with the inmate, Mendez allegedly pointed his camera toward a French bulldog sitting in his car and told the inmate he was trying to get rid of the dog. 

Police said the dog captured in the video call had a similar fur pattern as the stolen bulldog. 

Investigators tracked Mendez down and he denied stealing the dog. Police further observed two bite marks on Mendez's back, which the suspect said were caused by his girlfriend.

The French bulldog was reunited with its owner after Mendez was taken into custody.

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